At the market, choose basil with bright green leaves and avoid those with black, brown or yellow spots.

How to Store

Once you get home, place the cut stems in a container of water and keep it on the windowsill for about a week. The water should be changed every other day. You can also store basil wrapped in a damp paper towel in the refrigerator drawer for up to 4 days.

Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, is a registered dietitian and consultant who specializes in food safety and culinary nutrition. See Toby's full bio »